Number 20 Sewer Ventilation Column in St Andrew's Road (south side)

A sewer ventilation column of around 1896-1903, located on the south side of St Andrew's Road, Carshalton, LB Sutton. Constructed by W Macfarlane & Co, for a sewerage scheme by Baldwin Latham (1836-1917) and one of around 28 remaining in Carshalton.

MATERIALS: cast-iron

DETAILS: the cylindrical sewer ventilation column is around 9m high and is designed to resemble a Classical column with pedestal, moulded base and enriched capital. It is constructed of two conjoined lengths of pipe, linked with a flanged joint. On top of the capital is an ornate arrow, thought either to orientate the vent into the wind or to indicate the line of the sewer. Above this is a ball with vents facing in all four directions, the whole surmounted by a tall finial encircled with a coronet. There is no visible manufacture stamp, although a number of similar examples in Carshalton are marked with the name ‘W MACFARLANE & CO, GLASGOW’.